Izaga 6
1 Ndodana yami, uba uyisibambiso somakhelwane wakho, watshayela owezizwe isandla sakho,
My son, if thou hast become surety for another, If thou hast stricken hands for another,
2 uthiywe ngamazwi omlomo wakho, ubanjwe ngamazwi omlomo wakho.
If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth,
3 Yenza lokhu khathesi, ndodana yami, uzophule, lokhu usesandleni sikamakhelwane wakho; hamba, uzithobe, umncengisise umakhelwane wakho.
Do this now, my son, and rescue thyself, —Since thou hast fallen into the hands of thy neighbor, —Go, prostrate thyself, and be urgent with thy neighbor!
4 Unganiki amehlo akho ubuthongo, lokuwozela enkopheni zakho.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids;
5 Uzophule njengomziki esandleni somzingeli, lanjengenyoni esandleni somthiyi wenyoni.
Rescue thyself, as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Yana ebunyonyweni, vila, ubone indlela zabo, uhlakaniphe.
Go to the ant, O sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise!
7 Obuthi, bungelamkhokheli, induna, lombusi,
She hath no governor, Nor overseer, nor ruler;
8 bulungisa isinkwa sabo ehlobo, bubuthe ukudla kwabo esivunweni.
Yet she prepareth in the summer her food, She gathereth in the harvest her meat.
9 Koze kube nini, vila, ulele? Uzavuka nini ebuthongweni bakho?
How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep?
10 Ubuthongo obuncinyane, ukuwozela okuncinyane, ukusonga izandla okuncinyane ukuthi ulale,
“A little sleep, —a little slumber, —A little folding of the hands to rest:”
11 besebusiza ubuyanga bakho njengesihambi, lenswelo yakho njengomuntu olesihlangu.
So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
12 Umuntu kaBheliyali, umuntu okhohlakeleyo, ohamba lomlomo ophambeneyo,
A worthless wretch is the unrighteous man, Who walketh with a deceitful mouth;
13 afice amehlo akhe, akhulume ngenyawo zakhe, afundise ngeminwe yakhe,
Who winketh with his eyes, Speaketh with his feet, And teacheth with his fingers.
14 ukuphambuka kusenhliziyweni yakhe, uceba okubi ngesikhathi sonke, ephosela ingxabano.
Fraud is in his heart; He deviseth mischief continually; He scattereth contentions.
15 Ngenxa yalokhu ingozi yakhe izafika masinyane, ahle ephuke, kuze kungabi leselapho.
Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;
16 Lezizinto eziyisithupha iNkosi iyazizonda; yebo, eziyisikhombisa ziyizinengiso emphefumulweni wakhe:
These six things doth the LORD hate; Yea, seven are an abomination to him:
17 Amehlo aphakemeyo, ulimi oluqamba amanga, lezandla ezichitha igazi elingelacala,
Lofty eyes, a false tongue, And hands which shed innocent blood;
18 inhliziyo eceba amacebo amabi, inyawo eziphangisa ukugijimela ububi,
A heart that contriveth wicked devices; Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 umfakazi wamanga ophafuza izinkohliso, lophosela ingxabano phakathi kwabazalwane.
A false witness, that uttereth lies, And him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Ndodana yami, gcina umlayo kayihlo, ungakudeli ukufundisa kukanyoko.
Keep, O my son! the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the precepts of thy mother!
21 Kubophele enhliziyweni yakho njalo, kubophele entanyeni yakho.
Bind them continually to thy heart, Tie them around thy neck!
22 Ekuhambeni kwakho kuzakukhokhela, ekulaleni kwakho kukulondoloze, lekuvukeni kwakho khona kukhulume lawe.
When thou goest forth, they shall guide thee; When thou sleepest, they shall watch over thee; And, when thou awakest, they shall talk with thee.
23 Ngoba umlayo uyisibane, lokufundisa kuyikukhanya, lokukhuza kokulaya kuyindlela yempilo,
For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.
24 ukuze kukugcine emfazini omubi, emazwini ayengayo olimi lowesifazana wemzini.
They shall guard thee from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the unchaste woman.
25 Ungaloyisi ubuhle bakhe enhliziyweni yakho; angakuthathi ngenkophe zakhe.
Desire not her beauty in thy heart, Nor let her catch thee with her eyelids;
26 Ngoba ngenxa yomfazi oyisiphingi ungafika ecezwini lwesinkwa, lomfazi womuntu uzingela umphefumulo oligugu.
For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.
27 Kambe, umuntu angaphatha umlilo esifubeni sakhe, lezigqoko zakhe zingatshi?
Can a man take fire into his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28 Umuntu angahamba phezu kwamalahle avuthayo, lenyawo zakhe zingatshi yini?
Can one walk upon burning coals, And his feet not be scorched?
29 Unjalo ongena kumkamakhelwane wakhe; wonke omthintayo kayikuba msulwa.
So is it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
30 Kabalideleli isela, nxa liseba ukuthi ligcwalise umphefumulo walo, ngoba lilambile.
Men do not overlook a thief, Though he steal to satisfy his appetite, when he is hungry;
31 Uba litholwa, lihlawula kuphindwe kasikhombisa, linika yonke impahla yendlu yalo.
If found, he must repay sevenfold, And give up all the substance of his house.
32 Ofeba lowesifazana uswela ingqondo; owenza lokhu nguye ochitha umphefumulo wakhe.
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; He that doeth it destroyeth himself;
33 Uzathola ukutshaywa lesigcono, lehlazo lakhe kaliyikwesulwa.
Blows and dishonor shall he get, And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 Ngoba ubukhwele bululaka lomuntu; ngakho kayikuba lasihawu ngosuku lwempindiselo.
For jealousy is the fury of a man; He will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35 Kayikunanza loba yiyiphi inhlawulo, kayikuvuma lanxa usandisa isipho.
And he will not pay regard to any ransom, Nor be content, though thou offer many gifts.
